China Asks Internet Users to Stop Spread of Rumors

China Asks Internet Users to Stop Spread of RumorsThe government and Internet operators must make joint efforts to address online rumors, the official news agency said, citing Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office. China has closed 42 websites since mid-March and detained six people as it cracks down on rumor-mongering.

China's biggest political scandal for years has fuelled an unprecedented outpouring of gossip, speculation, rumours and anti-government satire among hundreds of millions of internet users who drive the country's vibrant social media.

The explosion of wild rumours, and sometimes true reports, among China's 300 million microbloggers has forced the ruling Communist Party into a two-pronged attack since a political scandal broke in February involving the "princeling" leader Bo Xilai.

The party has stepped up its online controls, closing dozens of websites this month, arrested at least six microbloggers for spreading rumours, and has run a major propaganda campaign in state media.

It has started to enforce a real-name registration system for microbloggers and suspended two major Maoist websites that had supported Bo.

But it has also tried to direct the course of online discussions and "occupy" microblogging sites rather than shut them down, said Michael Anti, a writer who is one of China's best-known microbloggers.

All the rumours on Bo that later turned out to be true were "leaked by the Chinese government," Anti said.

Bo Xilai scandalChina’s state news agency Xinhua reported last week that the government had shut down 42 websites and arrested 1,065 people for “fabricating or disseminating online rumors.” Xinhua also revealed that Beijing police had deleted 208,000 “harmful” online messages during the past month. The report did not specify the contents of the rumors, but most Chinese and concerned outsiders know what the main targets of the nationwide crackdown were.

Tourists returning from trips to China report that everybody, including their tour guide, is talking about the Bo Xilai scandal. And, because of the dramatic elements of the incident, everyone conveys a different version of what happened and why, including theories of a power struggle in the highest offices in Beijing, hence the great alertness of the Chinese authorities.

The magnitude of the affair is being compared to that of Mao Ze-dong’s successor-designate Lin Piao’s escape in the 1960s and the Gang of Four intrigue in the 1970s. The main actors are Bo Xilai, the ambitious party secretary of Chongqing who is now under investigation for corruption and abuse of power; his wife Gu Kailai who was arrested in connection with the murder of a British businessman friend last November; and Wang Lijun, Bo’s deputy and police chief who unsuccessfully sought asylum in the U.S. consulate in Chengdu in February, arousing international attention.

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Quoting: Atom-Boy

well i am spreading rumors.bo xi was going to kill politburo

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12277064

Say it isnt so!! LOL

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 14555916

bo became too powerful just like rothschild in west.He wanted to take over country completely.He was just going on killing spree but he made a mistake when he killed 3 prominent businessmen and the englishman.Those prominent businessmen paid lot of bribe to politburo.When it stopped coming,they took action on bo xi

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Quoting: Atom-Boy

well i am spreading rumors.bo xi was going to kill politburo

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12277064

how's that military coup going in india btw

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 14583054

like a drunk horse walking to water.nothing much.It was rumor created by civilian govt to shame military leadership.take it from me.first hand

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Quoting: Atom-Boy

well i am spreading rumors.bo xi was going to kill politburo

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12277064

how's that military coup going in india btw

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 14583054

howz is angels doing?i heard she is giving final touches to hitler's third Reich plan

Just one wrong Articulationand your whole State is going down,for example "Perestroika" and the lost of eastern Germany happened because of one wrong misconceived Telephone Calland afaik already a few Hours later the Democratic Germany (East)was lost and with her the rest of the whole Soviet Union!

Quoting: Atom-Boy

well i am spreading rumors.bo xi was going to kill politburo

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12277064

how's that military coup going in india btw

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 14583054

howz is angels doing?i heard she is giving final touches to hitler's third Reich plan